AFC Telford United Women have appointed long-serving player Jemma Smith as their new manager. The announcement, made on 7 May 2026, signals a fresh chapter for the club in Telford as the team prepares for the upcoming season following the conclusion of the 2025-26 campaign.
Smith, who has been with the club since its founding in 2017, will take on the role of player-manager. A former vice-captain with over 100 appearances for the team, she is a familiar figure to supporters and is described by the club as a true AFC Telford legend. In her new position, she will continue to play while leading the squad, supported by coaches Mick Hill and Tom Lauder.
The appointment comes as the club seeks to improve on last season’s performance. The women’s side finished the 2025-26 term with 3 wins and 2 draws from 15 league matches. As part of a wider restructuring of the women’s and girls’ football department, Alex Owens has been named Head of Women’s and Girls’ Football, and will continue to work alongside Hannah Clarke to develop the club’s talent pathway.
According to AFC Telford United, these changes follow an active period for the club, which also saw the men’s first team finish their season 10th or 11th in the National League North with 107 goals scored across all competitions.
More information about the club and its teams can be found on the official website.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
